Game 23: Gotta get down with Freddy

With apologies to everyone who know has that song stuck in his or her head and with a tip of the cap to our own Hannah Ehrlich for the inspiration, it’s Freddy time. The Yanks play host to the Blue Jays this weekend for a three-game set in the Bronx, and Freddy Garcia, 1-0 with a minuscule 0.69 ERA, takes to the hill tonight for his third start of the year.

Opposing Garcia will be Ricky Romero and the change-up of doom. Romero is only 1-3 this year but with a 3.00 ERA. In 19.2 innings against the Bombers last year, Romero limited the Yanks to just a .200/.282/.386 triple slash line. In his lating outing, he went seven strong against the Rays, giving up just a pair of runs while striking out ten but took the loss anyway. If both pitchers are on tonight, we’ll see a lot of slow balls and a good duel on the mound.

WOW….anyone read this garbage? Jered Weaver won’t be a Yankee because Cliff Lee didn’t sign with us and Felix signed a long extension. He actually says signing an extension was spurning the Yankees. He says if he didn’t sign the extension he would have been traded to the Yankees since they’d try and get something before he left for free agency.

Then he says Weaver is so grateful for the Angels drafting and developing him that he isn’t all about the money. This despite him going year by year and being represented by Scott Boras. He’d take a discount to stay in Anaheim.

So to recap. A player signing an extension instead of going year to year is spurning the Yankees. And a player going year to year also doesn’t want to be a Yankee. Could Angels fans be more annoying?

DCBX

Haters gon’ hate….

Pat D

Clear case of someone trying to convince themselves of what they want to happen.

And yet at the same time they allow that Weaver could become a Yankee. But not because of the Yankees offering him a big contract, but just because Moreno hates Boras.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Damn, I thought Garcia’s scoreless streak was going to last all season.

IRF

Freddy got Bautista’d

Cy Pettitte

wonderful

JerseyDutch

A blast from Joey Juiceman.

Esteban

So 2010 wasn’t a fluke for Bautista eh?

Poopy Pants

Another RAB-only story line.

Esteban

What are you talking about? I don’t think the ENTIRE baseball community was sold that last year was Bautista’s new talent level.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Another Poopy Pants straw man.

Pat D

I fucking hate Bautista.

Rey22

Jose Bonds. Meh.

Esteban

Why assume steroids?

Poopy Pants

Only the Yankees are allowed to have oversized people hitting HR’s.

ArchStanton

Most inevitable home run of all time.

Marcus

Exactly what I was thinking, but well put.

Esteban

I don’t think Freddy’s on tonight.

JimAbbottFan

Garcia missing spots = batting practice.

Poopy Pants

They’re STILL not testing for steroids in MLB?
I’ve read for the last year on RAB that Bautista stinks and is only able to hit HR’s because he’s on PED’s.
What happened???

Esteban

Which writers have said that? Maybe commenters, though I don’t know why people assume steroids.

Poopy Pants

Most regular commenters (who think they are writers) for the last year.
Writers could’ve made comment’s, too, but I don’t have time to research archives.

Esteban

So your contention is that the only people that thought Bautista had a fluke year/is on steroids are on RAB? I never thought he was taking steroids, but there was reason to doubt that he would hit 50 hrs every year from now on.

12 team, 3 keepers year to year – should I be willing to trade Justin Upton/Sabathia/Chris Perez for Hanley Ramirez? Or is that too much?

IF Hanley recovers, he’s one of the two top shortstops in baseball (edge to Tulo with more R/RBIs due to better offensive team), and a no-doubt keeper.

I drafted Upton with the idea that he could take a step forward this year into super-stardom, so I’m a bit wary of the deal from my end, but I do have an excess of offensive talent, and good players rotting on my bench, and I would like the extra roster spot to mix and match hot pitchers from the waiver wire.

d00d has previously insisted on Longoria being included on my end, which I’d be willing to do Longoria+minor for Hanley, but not Longoria+Sabathia. If he insists on Longoria we’re probably done, though.

V

I also have 3 other closers (Axford/Madson/Bailey), so I’m ok dealing one, though I think Perez is going to be the best of the four in 2011.

mbonzo

What kind of depth do you have in the outfield and SP?

V

Outfield: (we have 4): Upton/Werth/Granderson/Bourn/Berkman/Sizemore; Berkman’s playing IF while Aaron Hill is on DL, and Sizemore is UT with Ortiz riding the bench. Ortiz should not be riding the bench… but I’d rather play everyone else on a given day.

I’d try and trade Werth and CC or Lator and Upton or even Latos and Werth. If you guys only use 3 keepers then I think Hanley has more value in the next few years. Upton is a good overall player, but his fantasy value could fall very quickly if he has a down year. CC is Mr. Reliable but remember that his stats are encumbered by pitching in the AL East. Sure, you get more wins, but less K’s, ERA, WHIP than what people value him at. I’d also drop Matsuzaka if I was you and pick up a guy like Stauffer in FA.

V

Dice-K and Colon were very recent pickups (when I dropped Posada/Arencibia/Uehara), so yeah, I was just going to see if Dice-Ks two great starts carried over, and after he’s already walked FOUR Mariners, I think that answer is in.

Stauffer does nothing for me. Not enough Ks, too many hits. I tend to make it a point to roster as few low-K starters as possible.

V

Well, with that injury, definitely releasing him, lol.

MannyGeee

no way, that is way too much for Hanley alone… if you can keep CC and move Upton & Perez plus another minor piece, then I’d pull the trigger.

V

I was originally willing to do Upton+CC for the keeper SS, but I think adding (what I believe to be) a top closer is too rich for me.

Ugh, I need to make a trade at some point to convert my outfield depth into something useful. My SS sucks (Peralta); my 2B is Aaron Hill (DL) and Neil Walker (heh). My C was Posada, then Arencibia (got tired of the 4 days a week thing; I can’t juggle my roster daily), and now Ramos. I’m set at 1B/3B with Berkman/Youkilis/Longoria.

I’m firmly 5th-7th in all 10 categories except wins (and with CC having 4 more wins as he deserves, I’d be solid in that too), for 8th place overall… hoping for some movement at some point, lol.

MannyGeee

whoa… Ricky Ro almost got dental work there

Kit

Wow that could’ve been terrible.

Pat D

Both pissed at Romero, and relieved for Romero on that last play.

Esteban

Ugh, A-Rod should have killed that pitch

IRF

Its a bit strange to see a young pitcher attacking hitters like that

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Yay Freddy.

Esteban

Well, what are you gonna do? The Yankees weren’t gonna get great pitching every night.

Pat D

OMG, Garcia’s having a bad start? I didn’t think that was ever going to happen?

A-Rod’s Wingman

Awesome title, unfortunately Freddy isn’t living up to it. :(

http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

But I thought Garcia was going to be Great Forever?

Cy Pettitte

he’s no Colon

JerseyDutch

Uh, oh. Not looking too good for Fast Freddy Fingers.

JerseyDutch

And on a side note: How come the Yankees can never hit against slow-pitching junk ballers?

Pat D

Well they say it’s the power pitchers who put that extra power that allows the ball to be hit out of the park.

/Kay’d

nedro

So much for all the goodwill he created on Sunday.
Freddy’s stock is falling fast.

Adam

Is it too early to assume that the Post will run the “Freddy Gets Fingered” headline tomorrow?

Esteban

That might be too much even for the Post.

MannyGeee

I would buy & frame it though…

Ken M

Looks like Toronto has figured out the 86mph heat!

MannyGeee

Freddy is in a world of shit…

nedro

/Gomer Pyle’d

Cy Pettitte

safe on a pitch out, ughh

MannyGeee

think it had anything to do with the 68 mph pitch out?

JohnnyC

You don’t expect a changeup on a pitch out.

jorge brosada

Anyone else following the draft? I don’t understand why the giants drafted another defensive lineman. Marvin Austin is talented, no doubt, but there is a big need for Linebackers and Offensive lineman and they keep ignoring it…

Also Garcia looks shaky tonight

V

Sometimes, if the best player on your board falls to you, you have to take him. There’s always trades and free agency. Not to mention, there might not be a 2011…

MannyGeee

Rajai Davis is just stupid fast…

JohnnyC

Good thing the back of the rotation guys always face their counterparts on the opposing team. Oh well, there goes that urban myth.

IRF

What the hell is he wearing on his neck?

MannyGeee

Froot Loop Necklace Colon made him

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

It’s his Turk Wendell necklace.

MannyGeee

I Laughed

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

They better not throw anything to Bautista even remotely close to the plate.

Pat D

Yeesh. Who’s the long man tonight?

Kostas

these games suck. no pitching, no hitting… fucking Toronto.

MannyGeee

See if he takes Latos instead of CC, that I’d do

MannyGeee

my bad, meant to reply to the FBB thread above.

Simon

By the looks of it, it looks like we have a chance to take 2/3 like Mike predicted in the chat today. Garcia doesnt look that good tonight unfortunately.

MannyGeee

things could turn around when you crack that toronto bullpen open

JerseyDutch

I don’t suppose Bartolo Colon could be a long reliever AND a starter?

MannyGeee

you only get 75ip before his arm falls off… counterpoint he really is a walking heart attack, so why not…

Cy Pettitte

sooooo many pitches,man this game is just painful

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Freddy muscled up for that 89.

http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

Steroids.

http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

Every Toronto series they challenge Bautista until he hits a HR, and then they cower like animals for the rest of the series.

Just walk him, we won’t hold it against you/

nedro

Holy Shit!!!

jon

walks are for suckers

-cano

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

That ball was well struck.

Cy Pettitte

Cano is hitting lasers, swagger levels are out of control

Esteban

This Guy. This guyyyy. Cano cannot be stopped!

Xstar7

Babe Cano

IRF

Pshh. I don’t need no stinkin walks

Pat D

I’m still trying to figure out if I like Cano’s Griffey impression.

MannyGeee

I like his Groucho Marx better, but his Griffey is pretty good too

Epy0n

I love how Cano is destroying lefties on that same slider.

DCBX

BANG!

MannyGeee

Tex looks to have a little herp on his lip… thats for uncovering this for us, HD!

Nothing is going right for the Yankees today. Bases loaded no outs, failed to score a single run. Caught Bautista trying to take second, and he throws the ball away. The throw beats Bautista at the plate but he slides around Martin. Why do the Yankees have such excruciating games like this?

Kostas

I still don’t understand how inept teams like Toronto and Chicago come into Yankee Stadium and make this team look silly. #Yankeepridefailure

Agree. Never liked heavy metal and Enter Sandman is the only Metallica song I’ve ever heard (knowingly)

Pat D

That’s the only Metallica album I have, and I have never liked anything by the others.

Metallica has also done their own versions of movie music, like “The Imperial March” from The Empire Strikes Back and “The Ecstasy of the Gold” from The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, and they were just utterly, utterly boring.

http://twitter.com/Paddock9652 Stratman9652

Any idea how many pitches have been seen by Yankee pinch hitters? I feel like I’ve seen way too many pinch hit groundouts on one or two pitches lately.

MannyGeee

thats b/c Chavez don’t take a pitch…. and he has done most of the pinch hitting this year

mbonzo

Home run on this 3-1 pitch?

Epy0n

Seattle heating up over there in the bumpin AL West.

Xstar7

Please no DP, PLEASE

MannyGeee

Boone and Soriano both up in the pen…. that worries me.

Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

NO DP Jeter PLEASE!!!!

Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat

Didn’t want to reply…

Esteban

Sox lost.

MannyGeee

fuck em. they back in last place yet?

Esteban

If the orioles win, yea.

Cy Pettitte

pinch hit Chavez

NC Yankee Fan

Pinch hit for Jones already

MannyGeee

then pinch hit Montero!

oh

mbonzo

Whenever Gardner takes a walk, he’s halfway down the line to first before the umpire calls it.

Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

Bunt?

jorge brosada

Jeter with the bases loaded. Lol.

http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

he’s not gonna hit a homer. pray it makes it into the OF.

Kostas

good grief. This is not the ideal situation…. nervous… no DP

Pat D

Oh, this should be fun.

Rey22

Oh god please don’t even swing the bat. Anything but a GIDP >_< I'll take a 3 strike K

Xstar7

Jeter with the bases loaded? I don’t know what to expect.

JerseyDutch

Pain…

Kit

Derek please. *begs*

Kit

Left that too open ended. Please don’t hit into a DP.

JerseyDutch

Grand slam? GIDP? What will it be?

Rey22

*3 pitch

Total Dominication

Please Jeter.

NHyankeesfan

i wouldnt let him swing. we all know what could happen

Aj

I laughed. Hard.

jetrer

Fun fact … Jeter has only 2 HRs since last June 12 (one inside the park) and that includes postseason, spring training, and backyard wiffle ball

JackC

Jesus. That’s only 2 more than I have.

Pat D

Wiffle ball HR’s are pretty rare…

mbonzo

Jeeez, Kay is so lame when the bases are loaded. He’s just way too corny.

JackC

I’ve been reduced in moments like this with the Captain to rooting for a walk.

mbonzo

Strikeout > doubleplay

Kostas

Agreed, especially right now

jetrer

clutch

JerseyDutch

Strike out! Thank god.

Kit

I didn’t want to, but I chuckled. Felt bad immediately.

jorge brosada

Useless Jeter. At least you didnt GIDP

Cy Pettitte

whatever, better than a GIDP

Rey22

Meh….beats a DP. Swish time!

NHyankeesfan

that was at his shoulders

Total Dominication

hduykil.jk,nbdvfglhk

IRF

Im half relieved that he struck out

BigBlueAL

No chance.

Pat D

It’s a good thing for Jeter that he’s still questing for 3000 hits.

Otherwise I think he’d start to hear boos earlier than whenever he will.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Jeter expanded the zone? No way.

Esteban

Dere(K) Jeter

Klemy

Christ.

Xstar7

Damn it Jeter. At least it wasn’t double play. But Nick Swisher isn’t going to do anything.

Xstar7

Called it. And I hate myself for it.

Guest

17 mil for three years. Player option for year four.

Sigh.

ArchStanton

I honestly can’t recall Jeter getting a big hit for quite some time.

Klemy

Well, he’s never been pied in how many opportunities?

Pat D

My only regret of the 2009 season.

NHyankeesfan

at least the middle of the order will be up for the bottom of the 9th

wow

offensive black hole.

Cy Pettitte

this is probably one of the most painful games of the year to watch

Klemy

I just…don’t even know why I’m still watching this painful game.

Pat D

Mother fucking fucker, Swisher!

MannyGeee

atta way to taske a pitch, asshole. this ain’t beer league, you can wait for one

I just poked fun at an offense that left 11 men on base. That’s real negative and not drawing attention to facts right?

Pat D

Yes, it is negative. Yes, it is factual.

I was just giving an overall appraisal of the normal tone of your posts.

Esteban

Your optimism and perspective was missing…

Esteban

were*

Kyle

They deserve to lose this one. at least Jeter didn’t GIDP

EndlessMikeJr

When you need a jeter single he can’t do it. It’s the only thing he’s good at.

MannyGeee

that, and porking starlets

Kostas

11 LOB… ridiculous

Xstar7

It’s that series in Texas all over again.

http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

not even. that was historic.

TSJC Troll Doppleganger

Jeter and Swisher both know that RBIs are overrated.

MannyGeee

thats right, according to Ian O Conner, its all about heart and determination…and of course being a real Yankee

Cuso

First pitch swinging with bases jacked & 2 outs. nice job, Swish.

Where are all the braniacs that were claiming that Swish ‘busted out of it’ last night?

A six-year-old girl coulda gone 2-for-4 if she batted in front of Cano & behind Grandy like Swish did last night.

when have you ever swung at the first pitch and succeeded Nick?

idiot trying to be a hero again.

Xstar7

Being pessimistic is so much fun right?

Pat D

In certain parts of life, I believe it is.

But I’ve gotten over being stupid pessimistic regarding sports.

First time lawng time

Was that necessary? What’s the big deal if he says something negative? Not everything has to be “OMG Yankees are the best team ever! Bunting sucks!!!!”

Esteban

You say the Yankees suck, always.

Esteban

Why aren’t you batting in front of Cano then?

First time lawng time

Lol people here need to chill. Do you really expect us to beat Toronto? Get real…we suck against them..well be lucky if we don’t get swept.

Cy Pettitte

they’ve been trying their hardest to give this game to us, it’s annoying

Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan

This.

Pat D

Yes, yes you do.

Kit

I think she’s giving Poopy Pants a run for his money in the worst commenter ever department. Really trolling hard.

First time lawng time

How am I trolling?

Kit

Read your comments and tell me how you’re not trolling. This shouldn’t even be a question.

First time lawng time

Don’t get how I’m trolling…because I don’t drool over this team and act like they’re so great?
What do all comments here have to be incredibly optimistic? Unless of course someone, heaven forbid, bunts or Soriano comes in? (OMG the contract! Let’s keep bringing it uplike it means something to us!)

Kit

If you don’t get it then no one can help you. Just don’t complain when people call you out.

Kit

Also I don’t get where this “drooling” comes from. Almost everyone here acknowledges the weaknesses of the team, which is why if you read the comments above, you can see people talking about Jeter, Garcia and the bullpen with the bases loaded who didn’t get criticized for what they said.

Kit

*blow ups with the bases loaded. Sorry.

First time lawng time

DON’t remember freaking out tonight, but whatever let’s pick on FTLT.

Pat D

Saying that they suck against Toronto and will be lucky to not get swept is pretty close to freaking out.

First time lawng time

I think I have a valid point…they lost plenty of series against them last year and we haven’t looked good lately.

But this is RAB so every comment must have blind optimism.

Esteban

They were 8-10 last year against the Jays, hardly ‘sucking’ and 12-6 in 2009. Again you just say stuff without putting any thought into what you’re saying.

Kit

That’s not true at all. Most people here aren’t blindly optimistic. The Yankees always have a chance to win, they have a great offense. That’s not optimism, it’s realism. We lost the season series against Toronto last year for the first time since the early 2000’s. Doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again. If it does, who gives a fuck. Toronto will probably not even have a shot at the AL East or the Wild Card while the Yankees always do. The fact that you’re being relentlessly annoying with the constant “OMG, THE YANKEES SUCK” and continue to make the same post over and over is why people give you shit. If you don’t want to be picked on, then stop making posts like that. Everyone is entitled to being upset at a loss, but you’re not entitled to say something like “We’re lucky if we’re not swept” without being criticized for it. I’m not trying to be a bitch to you, but honestly you make it really hard for anyone here to support or like you based solely on your comments. You don’t have to be positive about everything, but don’t be needlessly pessimistic about a series that’s only one game in. If we lose tomorrow then you have every right to say that, but before then, no.

First time lawng time

1. Yeah you are being kind of a bitch.
2. 2010 is more relevant than the rest of the 2000s (the teams are most similar to this year)…we owon only a few series against them last, we’ve had trouble beating them, and we’ve had trouble scoring runs lately, except for last night. Therefore, this team is in a slump right now, and this series doesn’t look good. That’s realism too.
3. Really, I’m annoying? You know what’s annoying, reading a ton of comments hhere after someone shows bunt bitching about it. And then people complaining about the Soriano contract.
4. I don’t say the Yankees suck. I say the offense, pitching, or individual performance suck. And I have never said that they permanently suck. In fact, I generally refer to the one game or series.

Kit

I honestly don’t give a fuck if you think I’m being a bitch. If I am its because I’m responding to you and you make it difficult for me to be kind even though I a) never cursed at you b) try to treat you with as much respect as I can despite the fact that I really dislike your comments. 2010 is relevant, but the teams are always different and performances are different and you’re wrong in saying we’ll be lucky to not get swept after one game. Point Blank. Doesn’t matter what happens tomorrow, your comment is going to be taken the wrong way after one game. And yes, you’re annoying. Different people find different things annoying. I dislike bunting and the Soriano contract but I still like Soriano, do I bitch about it? No. Do I complain about people bitching about it? No. Those people all have valid points in their argument, whereas you just spew whatever you’re thinking without backing it up with evidence or actually making a point. When you’re right, people generally agree, when you’re wrong, they don’t. And your so called commenting on individual performances isn’t commenting on it at all. You just said “we’re lucky if we don’t get swept.” No one player loses a game, therefore, you’re not commenting on one performance. You’re commenting on the whole team, as in, you know, The Yankees. I bet if I cared enough to go back even further in your history of comments, I’d find more evidence to support what I just said.

First time lawng time

What I don’t understand is why people care so much about what I say. If I want to say the Yankees will be lucky to not get swept, there is absolutely no reason to call me out on it. If that’s how I feel I have every right to say it. I didn’t call anyone out here, therefore people shouldn’t give me crap about what I say about a baseball team.
I honestly can’t understand why people make a big deal out of it or why it’s annoying.

I just feel some people take comments too seriously, and swearing at someone or sayinghe or she knows nothing abouthe game, just because they disagree with the comment is a little extreme or uncalled for.

Kit

It’s not that people care individually about what you say, it’s just that if a comment comes along that is deemed stupid, people will usually jump all over it. I never said you knew nothing about the game (though to be honest, you don’t really help yourself with some of the things you say). And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with knowing little about the game to begin with. I’m just starting to learn sabermetrics. I don’t claim to be an expert on anything.

The reason why people care in general is because people happen to read it. Most of us really like this website, it’s informative, some of the people are fun and funny and it’s comments like “We’ll be lucky if we’re not swept” or the nice “Go fuck yourself” you sent me a few days ago that lower the quality and usually annoy the people who are really passionate about the team. It doesn’t mean you’re not passionate, it just sounds like you’re a Mets fan or something and it’s been centuries since we last saw a World Series and we’ll never win ever again. And you shouldn’t be talking about swearing at people, because I’ve seen you do it. So you’re not innocent, and neither am I. If you disagree, disagree, but at least give a valid argument as to why. You’ll see most people treat it with a “fair enough.”

Esteban

Your schtick is pretty annoying at this point.

MannyGeee

Coopers gf is the blonde… she is smoooookin too…

Pat D

Are you sure? We were hoping that it was the one in the middle.

MannyGeee

yeah, the blonde in the middle. the old lady and the chick with the camera look exactly alike. mom & sister

Pat D

OK. I wasn’t looking that hard.

Cy Pettitte

Arod needs to get on so Robbie can hit another laser HR

Cy Pettitte

so much for that

Xstar7

Why did I even watch that bottom of the ninth?

jetrer

this game was craptastic

a plethora of pinatas

Rauch is one big ugly lumbering-looking douche.

wow

so glad we had the heart of the order for that one.

MannyGeee

yuck, nothing worse than a loss like this. I rather see a 2 hit shut out. soo many opportunities blown…

Esteban

A night after almost everything went right. It happens and it usually even out over time.

TSJC Troll Doppleganger

This team is starting to resemble the Giambi, Sheffield, Matsui, ARod teams that did nothing in the mid 2000s. HRs or bust.

But hey, RBIs are so overrated. Screw sac flies and texas league singles.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

This team is starting to resemble the Giambi, Sheffield, Matsui, ARod teams that did nothing in the mid 2000s. HRs or bust.

Because of the pitching. You left that out, but I guess it would ruin your narrative.

TSJC Troll Doppleganger

I was talking about their HR mentality – those teams relied too much on the long ball, too.

The pitching hasn’t been too bad this season – sans Soriano.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

HR = best possible thing that can happen in an at-bat. Hitting too many isn’t a bad thing, it’s the best possible thing.

Xstar7

Hitting too many isn’t the problem. Relying on them is.

TSJC Troll Doppleganger

Ding, ding, ding. Someone gets me.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

The problem is that you’re assuming they do nothing but swing for the fences on every pitch.

Xstar7

Well that’s not true at all. But after a game where we left 11 men on base it’s easy to think so.

Esteban

Only if you ascribe that ‘failure’ to trying to hit homeruns, and give no credit to good pitching or fielding or bad luck or the fact that nobody can get a hit whenever they want.

Xstar7

Yeah you’re right. But having the bases loaded with less than two outs and not scoring a single run either time is a failure nonetheless. Also if you watch Jeter’s at bat with the bases loaded in the eighth, he was definitely trying to jack one.

Esteban

Who says they’re relying on them? What does that even mean?

Xstar7

Eh, It seems when they don’t hit home runs they can’t score in general.

Pasqua

Operative word in that sentence: “seems.” Have the Yankees scored a ton of runs via the HR so far? Yes. And that’s good. Because HR’s produce lots of runs. But the pace will likely slow and, at some point, people will be bitching that A-Rod, or Cano, or Granderson, failed to hit one out when the team “really needed them to.”

Pasqua

Can I ask, seriously, what does that mean? How do you “rely” on a homerun? Can A-Rod and Cano NOT physically single? Do you thnk hitters can will themselves to single or double at any moment but choose not to?

Esteban

Yes, that’s what they think. Every time a hitter makes an out, it was because they were trying to hit a HR or lack fundamentals. It’s not logical, but people like FTLT will continue to believe it.

Xstar7

The Yankees as a team in general do not play small-ball. Their offense is built on walks, and XBH (home runs in particular.) And when they can’t do these things they’re offense can’t put up the numbers they need to win on a regular basis. But don’t take this too seriously. It’s all anecdotal eyewitness garbage as TSJC once put it.

Esteban

And they score the most runs in the league every year! How is how they’ve developed the team a bad thing?

Xstar7

It’s not a bad thing. Most of the time they’re successful. But today was a disaster.

Esteban

It happens. That’s baseball. That’s sports.

Pasqua

The Yankees are constantly at or near the top in runs scored. They score a shitload of runs. That they don’t always score them when you or I would LIKE does not invalidate that amount that they score, so let’s stop pretending that, because they don’t sacrifice bunt a whole bunch, they are somehow damaging their chances of winning.

Xstar7

See: reply to esteban’s reply above.

Pasqua

Right. That’s fine. Tonight sucked, unfortunately. But because tonight sucked, it doesn’t mean a) that the Yankees approach at the plate is “wrong;” or b) that they’re only “relying” on homeruns.

Xstar7

Hey, TSJC Troll Doppleganger is the one who instigated this conversation. Not me.

Pasqua

Fair enought. And I’m not trying to pin it on you. But, you did make the “relying” on homeruns comment, which is the basis for a lot of my response.

Pasqua

You were talking about the homerun mentality but implying that it was the reason for the failures when pitching had a TON to do with it. (I sat in the bleachers for a playoff game against the Angels and watched Aaron Small and Al Leiter try to hold down the fort for crying out loud!)

If the pitching hasn’t been that bad this year, as you say, that would suggest to me a good chance at a different (and better) outcome than the mid-2000’s.

Esteban

The Yankees should be trying to hit… Texas league singles?

TSJC Troll Doppleganger

I’d love to see the occasional single with RISP – it’s either feast with the long ball or famine with this team.

First time lawng time

Singles would have driven in those runs with the bases loaded…

Esteban

You have NO idea what each Yankee player was thinking during their ABs.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

So would have wild pitches. And walks. And hit by pitches. And homers. And balks. And even double plays on some occasions.

First time lawng time

What? The guy I responded to implied that he didn’t think too highly of singles. I then responded by saying they would have been useful because they would have scored runs. I was strictly referring to singles and did not make any mention, either Positive or negative, to the items you listed. What was the purpose of your response?

Esteban

Do you know what a Texas league single is?
Here, I’ll save you the LMGTFY and just cite from Wiki:

Texas Leaguer

A Texas Leaguer (or Texas League single) is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder. These are now more commonly referred to as flares, bloopers or “bloop single.” See blooper.
The term originated when Ollie Pickering, a popular Texas League player, made his major league debut and proceeded to run off a string of seven straight bloop hits, to which the game announcers stated, “Well, there goes Pickering with another one of those “Texas Leaguers”

So I repeat, the Yankees should be trying to hit Texas Leaguers?

First time lawng time

IDK if it gets the run in sure. The goal should always be to score runs; if that’s what it takes, go for it.

Esteban

No. No. No. Players are never trying to hit bloopers.

Pat D

There is a difference between the process and the result.

The process is always to try to score the run. The result may not always be so.

But if the result is that the run is not scored, it is completely wrong to assume that their process was simply to try and hit a home run or to not try to score the run.

Esteban

Forget it, FTLT doesn’t respond to logic and lacks a basic understanding of how baseball works and how baseball players go about their business.

First time lawng time

Just because you disagree with me doesn’t make me wrong.
I prefer results over process . That’s got nothing to do with logic or understanding; that’s who I am.

Saying I don’t respond to logic and that I lack an understanding of baseball is kinda rude and uncalled for.

Pasqua

Ah, yes. I forgot. Singles are givens in an at-bat, and all a player has to do is decide to single and he shall do so. Homeruns, meanwhile? Only selfish pricks hit homeruns.

First time lawng time

I never said any of that, but let’s misinterpret the comments to cause a reaction.

Pasqua

Nope. Sorry. Now you’re just getting defensive. The comment says, “Singles would have driven those runs in…,” which implies that they somehow chose NOT to hit singles, which is just (of course) ridiculous. Yes, singles would have done the job, but so would a homerun, and in order to do either, you need to do something with the right pitch. They didn’t. It happens.

You’re so dull and have little idea of what you’re talking. You deserve the shit people give you.

Pat D

Yea, you see it’s comments like this that make you stand out as excessively negative.

RBI’s are fairly useless, because they don’t tell you anything about how many runs are actually being scored. I can’t say I’ve even seen anyone say sac flies are useless. Feel free to prove me wrong.

But you know what’s better than sac flies? Anything that doesn’t create an out!

Esteban

No RBIs are dumb as an individual stat, that’s where the stat is criticized. As a team stat- you have runs scored. so you don’t need RBIs, but who the hell cares how those runs are distributed amongst the players as long as they’re scoring runs?

Pat D

This is pretty much what I meant.

I’m not someone who likes to totally discard RBI just because I grew up with baseball cards and it was oh so important back then.

I do understand they don’t tell us anything.

First time lawng time

Not if it doesn’t drive in a run…

Pat D

I’m beginning to wonder if you have understood what I’ve said or if you’re just ignoring it.

Or if you even understand the rules of baseball.

First time lawng time

I understand the point of baseball…score runs. If a sac fly scores a run you did well.

Pat D

Yea, and so do singles, doubles, triples or home runs in that same situation. As does a walk or HBP if the bases are loaded.

So do you see why I say those non-out occurring situations are preferable to a sac fly?

First time lawng time

OBviously they are. When I read your comment I took it to mean hits of any form are always better than sac flies regardless of whether they drive in a run. My point was sac flies would be better because they score a run (as opposed to say, a leadoff triple that gets stranded). Obviously the outcome that generates the most runs and fewest outs is thr best scenario.

That’s my bad for misinterpretting your comment.

Pat D

OK, glad we’re on the same page then.

I still think that in general hits are better than outs, no matter the circumstance, but it really depends on the situation of course.

Pasqua

You did well in that you drove in a run; however you did not optimize your at-bat. A homrerun optimizes your at-bat as it produces the most possible runs.

Xstar7

Garcia didn’t deserve that loss. Games like this make me thankful there is almost always a game tomorrow

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Garcia didn’t deserve that loss.

Yes he did, he was awful. The only reason he didn’t give up more is because Juan Rivera swung at pitch after pitch in the dirt to end two innings/rallies.

Xstar7

Juan Rivera bailed him out yes, but those are the kind of things it takes to get out of multiple jams. And Robertson’s errant throw to Cano led to 2 runs which was the difference in this game.

http://danielslifka.wordpress.com Jerome S.

The home-run reliance narrative is poorly constructed. It has validity (minimal, IMO), but these idiots aren’t getting to the heart of the argument.

tom

Okay, feel free to label this the pie-in-sky view, but….

A team with a tremendous on-base percentage (i.e., the Yankees) is going to once in a while give you a hugely frustrating game, because the right person or persons doesn’t come through at the key moment. Would you really prefer a team that didn’t give you that hope, even if, like tonight, it’s in vain?

I mean, honestly: most teams whose starter had practically nothing and whose first-reliever-out-of-the-box stunk out the joint, up against an opposition starter who allowed two runs in six innings, would have been prostrate before the seventh inning stretch. As maddening as it is to see great opportunities go by, they’r3 opportunities only a very good team can provide.

TSJC Troll Doppleganger

To go back to my original post about this Yankee team resembling the mid-2000s Yankee teams (hitting-wise only):

Those teams could mash the ball and score at will, and this season, to date, so has this Yankee team. My concern is that those teams were exposed in the playoffs by better pitchers who kept the ball in the yard and they didn’t “manufacture” runs.

There seems to be negative opinions about the sacrifice fly on this website. Hey, I love the long ball as much as the next guy, but it’s not going to happen every time. 1 sac fly or slow ground ball with the bases loaded in the 5th and in the 8th and we may still be playing this game. What was so frustrating tonight was watching Teixeira not wait for his pitch in the 5th and swing at the 1st pitch and hit that soft pop up to Escobar. And I don’t think the Yanks are trying to hit HRs every at bat, but it sure looked like Jeter was trying to go yard in the 8th inning. He was swinging out of his shoes.

Xstar7

This is all true. But you’re beating a dead horse. (love using that expression)